DOMINION PRODUCE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 413, 21 April 1937, Page 6

DOMINION PRODUCE.

OVERSEAS MARKETING. Government Guarantee System. Press Association —Copyright. Nelson, April 20. “It. is with gratification that I ttate that the overseas miark'Uting of New Zealand produce is working exremely satisfactorily,” said Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, at a civic reception to-day. “Th:re is no doubt in my mind, in spite of criticisms which have been Offered from various sources, .that if the farmers were given a vote on whetheir thte Govetnmenftj system should remain or not tliey v'ould prefer to keep it. '•‘■‘Whatever Government comes in in future th-i guaranteed price will be ; retained, though it may be altered a I?tie. It has been a god-Eend as far

as th© small farmers are concerned, and I am sure the foundation which has been laid will be permanent as far as New Zealand is concerned. “The Government is now investigating the fruit industry, and i’t is more 'than likely that fruit will be under a similar guarantee sys'Unn next year.” Cawthron Institute. The Minister was welcomed at a civic reception. In reply he said he \Vae particularly )bn tlije Cawthron Institute, which he Had visited during the morning. From Ms experience as a farmer he could say the work of -the institute merited the approbation of the thousands of producers in New Zealand. He had b6sin immensely pleased with the work of Dr. D. Miller in dealing with ragwort, and he was hopeful 'that as a rc.sult vt iv'ould be possible to cqrnbat it. The Minister said he hoped to gain a first-hand knowledge of the fruiterowing and tobacco industries. Fruitgrowers knew that a commission had b.en set up to go into the subject of Uocal marketing, and representations had been made to the department, which was now working out n scheme which it 'v|j.s hoped to put into operation next year. The Government had increased the export of fruit guarantee from 10s to 10s 6d, and -that had helped to stabilise the industry. For the grower who did not export the Government had granted £40,000 to help meet increased costs. The department would confer with .the growers and ascertain how they viewed 'the Government’s repottim-:•nidation. If the proposals were not considered satisfactory the department, Would have another look at i't.